Biography
A London-based post-punk group sometimes tagged positive punk stirred intense local excitement before vanishing almost overnight. Michelle Brigandage formed the creative core. While living in Camden she and partner Richard North had already ranked among the earliest punk faces by the mid-1970s; together they also ran the stall The Art Of Stealing at Camden Market. Michelle liked to recall being first through the door at the 100 Club Punk Festival and being rushed to hospital by ambulance with Mick Jones of the Clash at her side.
The debut lineup placed Michelle on vocals, Mick Fox on guitar, and twin brothers Ben on drums with Scott on bass. Their stated faith in positive punk drew sharp attacks from reviewers, above all in the New Musical Express, after which the rest of the band walked away, leaving Michelle only the name. Richard North—editor of Kick fanzine and contributor to Zig Zag as Richard Kick as well as to the New Musical Express under his own name—was brought in on bass first. Michelle brushed aside his claim that he could not play and added David Eaves on guitar and Tim Nuttall on drums before he could protest. Brigandage Mark 1 folded immediately after North’s widely discussed Positive Punk feature ran in the NME.
The group never converted its strong live reputation into lasting recordings. The Addison brothers later joined acid-jazz outfit Corduroy, while Michelle withdrew from music altogether.
The debut lineup placed Michelle on vocals, Mick Fox on guitar, and twin brothers Ben on drums with Scott on bass. Their stated faith in positive punk drew sharp attacks from reviewers, above all in the New Musical Express, after which the rest of the band walked away, leaving Michelle only the name. Richard North—editor of Kick fanzine and contributor to Zig Zag as Richard Kick as well as to the New Musical Express under his own name—was brought in on bass first. Michelle brushed aside his claim that he could not play and added David Eaves on guitar and Tim Nuttall on drums before he could protest. Brigandage Mark 1 folded immediately after North’s widely discussed Positive Punk feature ran in the NME.
The group never converted its strong live reputation into lasting recordings. The Addison brothers later joined acid-jazz outfit Corduroy, while Michelle withdrew from music altogether.